Shower vs Bath Cost

When you pick a quick shower or a long bath, the way you use water can change your energy usage, water consumption, and what you spend on your electricity bill or gas bill. This guide is here to help you see how much a shower or a bath can cost. It talks about the electric shower kW, so you can find out how much it costs to run. This guide also explains how much a gas boiler shower costs for each 10 minutes and looks into how the flow rate, liters of water, and the length of time you spend under the water can affect how you use energy and water.

Bath vs Shower: Water Consumption and Energy Use

A normal bath uses around 80 to 100 litres of water. You have to use hot water to fill the tub, and this needs a good amount of energy. When you use a central heating system with a boiler, it will take about 5 kWh of energy. This makes up a big part of the energy costs you pay each day.

Showers can help you use less water and less energy. You get this if the water flow is not too strong and if you keep the length of time short. A power shower is not the same. The water pressure from a power shower is high. If you use a power shower for too long, it may use as much water as a bath or even more. A good shower head can help with water usage. It can be made so you use about 7 to 9 litres each minute. You will still feel good and get a nice shower temperature.

Calculating Electric Shower Running Cost by kW Rating

What does the kW rating mean?

The kW shower rating tells you how strong the internal heating element is in an electric shower. A higher kW rating means you get instant hot water at a steady flow rate. This helps a lot when the cold water coming into your house is colder, like in winter. Most showers have a rating between 7.5 kW and 10.8 kW. A higher rating helps heat the cold water to your desired temperature faster. When your kw shower rating is higher, it will also use more electricity each minute.

How to Calculate the Running Cost of an Electric Shower

Over a year, taking a 10-minute shower every day would use around 693 kWh of electricity, costing approximately £149.

To work out the cost of electricity for the shower, use this simple method. Take the kW rating and multiply it by the cost of electricity per kWh. Divide that by 60. Next, you need to multiply it by the time, in minutes, that you use the shower. This will help you see the cost of electricity based on shower duration.

How much does it cost to run a 10-minute electric shower?

A 10-minute shower on a 9.5 kW electric unit at £0.26/kWh costs about 41p. This is based on heating cold water instantly with the internal heating element, using around 1.9 kWh of electricity per shower.

Running Cost Comparisons

• Electric showers: A 10-minute hot shower with electric showers will cost you between 35p to 41p. The final cost depends on the kW rating of your shower and your energy tariff.
• Gas boiler shower cost per 10 minutes: A hot shower using a gas boiler costs about 9p for the gas itself. When you add in water heating and other system losses, the total is around 34p.
• Mixer shower vs electric cost: A mixer shower running with a modern combi boiler is usually cheaper for each shower. This works best if your heating in the system is running well.

A cold shower uses less energy each time. The reason is that electric showers are not heating the water, or the heat is set very low. A cold shower can help you save energy. Even so, many people do not want to take a cold shower in winter.

Savings from Lower kW, Efficient Use, and Flow Control

If you pick a 7.5 kW electric shower instead of a 10.8 kW one, you will use less electricity. There will be less water coming out, so you will get a slower flow rate. The water pressure will also drop when you set the shower to a high temperature. This means you have to use less water, but you save on electricity consumption.

You can use efficient shower heads to help you use less water. These do not lower your comfort at all. They mix air with the water. It feels like you have more water, but you use less water. This helps save a lot of kilowatt hours every year as well.

How Duration Impacts Costs

Minute shower costs can go up quickly. A 5-minute hot shower using a 9.5 kW unit may cost about 20p. If you make the length of time double, the cost and kWh of electricity will also double. A shower timer or a smart meter lets you track electricity usage while you wash. It can also make you want to take shorter hot showers.

Monthly and Annual Electric Shower Costs in the UK

By kW rating (10-minute showers daily):

• 7.5 kW: this will be about £117 each year, using close to 544 kwh of energy
• 8.5 kW: you may spend nearly £133 a year, using around 617 kwh of electricity
• 9.5 kW: this could cost close to £149 each year, using about 693 kwh of energy
• 10.8 kW: this is almost £169 a year, with around 785 kwh of electricity used

Are Electric Showers Among the Top Energy Users?

Yes. Electric showers use more electricity every minute than a tumble dryer or most kitchen appliances. How much you pay in a year will depend on how often you use electric showers. They need so much electricity because they have to run at high kilowatt hours every time you use them.

Check if you're paying too much.

Compare your current tariff with the cheapest energy deals available in your area – it only takes a few minutes.

Compare cheapest tariffs

Efficiency and Hot Water System Comparisons

• Combi boiler showers make hot water right away. You do not have to use a tank, so there is less heat lost from the hot water.
• A gas boiler, when working with a central heating system, comes with a hot water cylinder. It is good to put insulation on the cylinder. This can help you keep your hot water use costs down.
• Immersion heaters can run at night by using lower-cost tariffs such as Economy 7. These heaters make the hot water through the night for less money.

Bath and Shower Cost Comparison

A cold shower uses less energy. It can help you lower what you pay each minute. You are basically paying just for the water when you take a cold shower.

Tips for Lowering Hot Water Bills

• Use efficient shower heads to help cut down water consumption.
• Make your shower duration shorter by putting timers and signs where you can see them.
• Keep your shower temperature lower to save kilowatt hours while heating the water.
• Put in a smart meter so you can check your electricity consumption right away.
• Take care of your boiler often. It helps keep up the best energy efficiency.

FAQs About Shower vs Bath Cost